Old Winter Springs neighborhood to get long-awaited sidewalks

One of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Winter Springs finally will get a system of sidewalks that will give pedestrians easier access to schools, businesses and bus stops.

The City Commission agreed this week to use $250,000 in federal money to build about two miles of sidewalks in a project the city has christened North Village Walk. The money comes from Seminole County's community development block grant, and the County Commission is expected to approve the allocation next month.

Dawn Cioce, who has lived in the neighborhood more than 30 years, said it's about time. Residents have done without sidewalks since before the city's name was changed from North Orlando to Winter Springs in 1972, she said.

"All of these streets should have sidewalks, especially with the children walking to school," said Cioce, who will use the new pathways for her regular morning strolls through the neighborhood of modest mid-century concrete block homes.

Construction is to begin April 1, and work is to be completed by the end of July.

Only a few bits of sidewalk now string through the neighborhood on the west side of town bounded by State Road 419 on the north, S.R. 434 on the south, Sheoah Boulevard on the west and Moss Road on the east.

With Layer Elementary to the north and Winter Springs Elementary to the south, the sidewalks could make access easier regardless of which school students are assigned to in the current rezoning process.

"The sidewalks will give pedestrians access to parks, schools, bus stops and retail businesses along S.R. 434," said city engineer Brian Fields.

Streets to get the 5-foot-wide sidewalks running down one side include North Cortez Avenue, North 1st Street, Algiers Avenue, North 1st Court, North 2nd Street, North Devon Avenue, North Fairfax Avenue and North 3rd Street from Edgemon to Fairfax.

If the money can be stretched, additional sidewalks also will go in on Moss Road and 1st Street, which now have walkways on only one side.